4. The Necessity of Copies for Both Parties
A key characteristic of legal documents, particularly covenants and testaments, is the necessity of providing copies to all parties involved. This ensures that both parties have access to the terms, obligations, and promises outlined in the agreement. In the context of the Bible as God’s legal document, this principle is fulfilled in a unique and divine way: God, as the author and primary party of the covenant, ensures that His Word is preserved and accessible to humanity, the second party to the covenant.
4.1 Biblical Precedents for Copies
The necessity of providing copies for both parties is evident in the biblical account of the Mosaic covenant. When God established His covenant with Israel, He provided a written record of its terms. Exodus 31:18 records:
“And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” (KJV)
The “two tables of testimony” served as a physical representation of the covenant. The use of two tablets likely reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of duplicating covenant documents—one copy for each party. In this case, one copy symbolized God’s possession of the covenant, while the other symbolized Israel’s possession.
Similarly, the command in Deuteronomy 31:9-13 emphasizes the public accessibility of God’s Word. Moses wrote the law and delivered it to the priests, instructing them to read it aloud to all Israel during the Feast of Tabernacles:
“And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.” (Deuteronomy 31:9-11, KJV)
This public reading ensured that all of God’s people had access to the terms of the covenant, highlighting the necessity of preserving and disseminating His Word.
4.2 The Witness of the Written Word
The Bible also establishes the written Word as a witness between God and His people. In Joshua 24:25-27, Joshua renews the covenant with Israel and records its terms in the book of the law:
“So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.” (KJV)
Here, the written Word functions as a legal witness, testifying to the covenantal agreement and holding the people accountable to its terms.
4.3 God’s Preservation of His Copy
As one party to the covenant, God not only authors the terms but also ensures their preservation. Psalm 119:89 declares:
“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (KJV)
This verse affirms the permanence and immutability of God’s Word in His possession. The heavenly record of Scripture guarantees that its terms remain intact and unaltered, even as it is transmitted to humanity.
The New Testament echoes this theme in Matthew 5:18, where Jesus states:
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (KJV)
This assurance from Christ underscores the divine commitment to preserving every detail of His covenantal Word.
4.4 Humanity’s Access to the Covenant
The second party to the covenant, humanity, must also have access to the terms. God’s providence ensures that His Word is not only written but also preserved and disseminated throughout the ages. This is evident in the command to copy and distribute the Scriptures, as seen in Deuteronomy 17:18-19, where kings of Israel were instructed to make personal copies of the law:
“And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them.” (KJV)
This practice not only preserved the text but also ensured that leaders and, by extension, the people under their rule, had access to God’s covenant.
4.5 The Role of the Church in Preservation
The Church, as the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), plays a crucial role in safeguarding and disseminating God’s Word. Through the Church, the Scriptures have been copied, translated, and distributed to believers across the globe. This providential work ensures that humanity continues to have access to the covenantal terms, fulfilling the requirement for both parties to possess a copy of the legal document.
4.6 Implications for Textual Integrity
The necessity of copies for both parties underscores the importance of textual integrity. If the text is corrupted or altered, the covenant is compromised, and its promises and obligations become uncertain. However, God’s faithfulness ensures that His Word is preserved in purity and made accessible to His people. As Isaiah 40:8 proclaims:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (KJV)
In conclusion, the principle of providing copies for both parties highlights the Bible’s nature as a legal document. God has preserved His Word in heaven and ensured its transmission to humanity, demonstrating His faithfulness to the covenant. This dual possession guarantees the validity and accessibility of the covenantal terms, enabling humanity to respond in faith and obedience to the God who keeps His promises.
5. The Binding Nature of the Bible as a Legal Document
The Bible, as a covenantal and legal document, is binding upon all parties involved. This binding nature arises from the authority of God as its author, the immutability of its terms, and the divine guarantees that enforce its promises and judgments. The covenantal framework of the Bible ensures that humanity is accountable to God’s Word, and it underscores the eternal consequences of obedience or disobedience to its terms.
5.1 The Authority of God as the Author
The binding nature of any legal document depends on the authority of the one who establishes it. In the case of the Bible, its authority is derived from God Himself, who is not only the author but also the sovereign Creator and Judge. This authority is evident in Exodus 19:5-6, where God declares:
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (KJV)
God’s sovereignty over all creation establishes the universal applicability of His covenant. No one is exempt from its terms, as it is instituted by the One who owns and governs all things.
Additionally, the binding authority of Scripture is rooted in its divine inspiration. As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (KJV)
Because Scripture is inspired by God, it carries His authority and is therefore binding on all who are subject to Him.
5.2 The Immutability of the Covenant’s Terms
A legal document is only binding if its terms remain unaltered. The Bible affirms the immutability of its covenantal terms, emphasizing that they cannot be revised or annulled. Psalm 89:34 declares:
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” (KJV)
God’s unchanging character ensures the stability of His covenant. The promises and judgments recorded in Scripture are as binding today as when they were first proclaimed.
Jesus reinforces this truth in Matthew 24:35:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (KJV)
The enduring nature of God’s Word guarantees that its terms remain binding upon every generation.
5.3 The Enforcement of Promises and Judgments
The Bible not only sets forth the terms of the covenant but also enforces them through divine promises and judgments. The blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28, demonstrate the binding consequences of God’s covenant:
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.” (Deuteronomy 28:1, KJV)
Conversely:
“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.” (Deuteronomy 28:15, KJV)
These passages reveal that the covenant is not merely a set of suggestions but a binding legal framework with eternal ramifications.
5.4 Christ as the Fulfillment of the Covenant
The binding nature of the Bible is fully realized in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who serves as the mediator of the new testament. Hebrews 9:15 declares:
“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” (KJV)
Christ’s death and resurrection establish the new testament as a binding covenant, guaranteeing the promises of eternal life and forgiveness of sins to those who believe. His fulfillment of the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17) ensures that the covenant is both upheld and completed in Him.
5.5 Accountability to the Covenant
The binding nature of the Bible holds humanity accountable to its terms. Romans 3:19 states:
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (KJV)
This accountability extends to all people, as the covenant is universal in scope. Humanity’s failure to meet the covenant’s demands highlights the necessity of a Savior, driving us to Christ, who fulfills the law on our behalf.
Believers are also accountable to the covenant in their daily lives. James 1:22 exhorts:
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (KJV)
The binding nature of Scripture demands not only intellectual assent but also practical obedience, as faith is demonstrated through works (James 2:17-18).
5.6 Eternal Consequences of the Covenant
The binding nature of the Bible extends into eternity. Revelation 20:12 describes the final judgment:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (KJV)
The terms of the covenant recorded in Scripture will be the standard by which all are judged. For those who are in Christ, the binding promises of the new testament guarantee eternal life. For those outside of Christ, the binding nature of the covenant enforces the penalties for sin.
5.7 Implications for Today
Recognizing the Bible as a binding legal document compels us to approach it with reverence and submission. It calls us to uphold its authority, preserve its integrity, and proclaim its message. As God’s covenant with humanity, the Bible demands our obedience and trust, assuring us of His faithfulness to fulfill His promises.
In conclusion, the Bible’s binding nature as a legal document reflects the authority of its Author, the immutability of its terms, and the eternal consequences of its promises and judgments. As both the covenant and testament of God, it stands as an unchanging and universal standard, holding all of humanity accountable to its terms and offering eternal life through Christ to all who believe.
